Pneumatic stopper for gas mains



May 31, 1932,- w. w, GARDNR PNEUMATC STOPPER FOR GAS MAINS Filed- Nov. 15, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet .M QW, w

May 31, 1932. w. w. GARDNER PNEUMATIC STOPPER FCR GAS MAINS Filed Nov. 15, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 2 ou a,

v Patented May 31, 1932 UNITED sTATiis WILLIS W. GARDNER, or MERIDEN, coivniiofrimifrv rivEUMAfrIcV sfrorrnn Foe GAs MAINS Application i'led November 15, 1930. Serial No, 495,815.`

My invention relates to an improved pneumatic v:stopper for use in given sections of gas-mains for checking the flow of gas therethrough as may be required preparatory to new installations of gas-mains, to making alterationsin existing gas-mains, and to kindredV operations of whatever character requiring the temporary checking of the f low of gas Vthrough the mains', the ob]ect being t0 produce, lfor the purposes'indicated, a s afe, simple and compact; quick and lconvenient device for inserting a bag into a gas-main without the escape therefrom of suiicient gas to overcome or even inconvenience the workmen employed.

With these ends in view, my invention consists in apneumatic gas-main stopper having certain details of construction as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the clairns.`

AIn the 'accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a view in elevation of a pneumatic gas-main-stopper embodying my invention; Fig'. 2 'is an enlarged broken sectional View thereof with the bag' retracted into its hous- 1110' 3 is a similar View showingthe housing installed in a gas-main with the .bag partly extruded thereinto from the housing; "Fig, 4 is asimilar view showing the bag fully expanded within the gas-main, for which it forms a complete stop against the flow of gas therein; v I Y Fig. 5 is an enlarged broken view in central longitudinal section showing theV mode of clamping the-neck of the bag upon the airp 6 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 4; and' Fig. 8 is a view in transverse section on the line 8 8 of Fig.- 4. l, l

Incarrying out my invention "as herein shown, vI employ' a bag-housing ,10V consisting of a metal cylinder'large-enough to receive the bag 11 when it is collapsed; the said housing and bag being adapted in size to the size of the gas-main 12. j The bag; which may be of any approved construction and which consists, asV shown, of a rubber-body 13 having acanvas cover 14, is formed with a neck 15 4which is clamped by aclip 16 upon the-lower end of an air-pipe`17 thereto provided with a plurality of grooves 18 into which the ma- 55 terial of the neck is forced, as shown in Fig.

5, by the constriction of the clamp.

The lower end of the cylindrical bag-housing 10 is externally threaded to adapt it to be screwed into a threaded hole 19 tapped inthe y60 gas-main at the point therein' where the bag is to be introduced. After the removal of the stoppen as such devices are commonly spoken of;this tapping, socalled, is closed l by means of any suitable plugin the ordinary manner.

The upper vend of the said lhousing 10 is threaded for the application of a threaded domical cap 20 forming a bearing for a plunger 21 which projects beyond it yfora 'I0 sufficient distance to provide. for the' play required for the ejection of the gas-bag into the gas-main. Near its inner end the plunger4 is threaded for the application Aof a packingring 22 held iny place by nuts 23 located on "f5 opposite sides of it, this packing-ring preventing the escape of gas from the housing in the use of the stop-per. The outer end of the air-pipe 17 aforesaid projects beyond theouterend of the vplunger and is provided with aT 24 carrying a pressure-gaugeV 25 of any'approved construction and having a nipple 26 containingany suitable air-valve'27 andproviding for theattachment of a tube leading to any source of supply o f gas under p-ressure for the inflation of the gas-bag.

The neck 15 of the bag 1l receives a rubbertube 28 which is directly clamped upon vthe grooved end of the air-pipe 17 by the clip 16'before described, as shown in Fig. 5, the 90 said clamp also clamping the said' neck upon the pipe through the intermediary of the said tube. The tube 28, `which thus virtually forms an extension of the bag; `surrounds the air-pipe 17 nearlythroughout`its length 95 and ts within theplunger 21; its projecting outer end being provided with a clamp 29 acting as a stop to prevent the air-pipe from n being forced through thed plungeru when the same is forced through vthe housing in injecting the bag into the gas-main. A stopcollar 80 mounted upon the plunger provides for limiting its inward movement with respect to the housing 10. To prevent any escape of gas through the plunger, I employ, as shown, a packing 3l applied over the lower end ofthe rubber-tube 28.v

In theuserofiny improved device, the bag is normally housed entirely within the hous- Y ing l0, where it is fully protected against injury in the transportation and handling .of

the stoppen and also provides for that convenience of introducing the bag into 'the gas-main which constitutes the outstanding` novelty and advantage v of my invention.

Y Infusing the device, a hole istapped at the desired point inthe gas-main and the housingk quickly screwed into it. The housing having been firmly mounted in the tapping as described, the plunger is forced downward in the housing until stopped by the collar 3() carried by it. At this time the bag is forced out of the housing intoI the main without any abrasion whatever of the bag, since its full course from the housing. into the mainl is protected. When the` bag has beenl forced into the main as described, air under pressure is applied to the nipple 26, whereby the bag is iniiated untill itfully iills the-main, as shown in Figjt, so as to constitute a complete stop for the'- gas flowing through the saine. It will be understoodthat Athe pressure of air introduced into the bag must be suiicient to expand it against the vpressure of gas within the main. v After'the bagv has been fully-expanded it is sealed by thel valve 27, or in any other` convenient mannen Y Y `*When the bag is introduced into the main, it may ybe displaced Oneway or the koth-er out of center, as shown'in Fig. 4, according to thefdirection in which the gas is yflowing through the same, and dependent upon the pressure of the gas. n f Y .Afterthel operation, whatever its character, has been inishe.dth e valve 27 is opened,

i when thelpressure of thegas inthe main will deflate nthe bag. VThe housing is now unscrewed and thel stopper as a unit removed from the main, the deflated bag passing readily through the c tappingf which is then plugged, .with the escape of a minimum amount of gas.

y Generally,more than one of these stoppers,A is used at the same time, dependent upon the character of the work being done. It vwill be seen from the foregoing description that the introduction of the bag'into the main Yis effected with the utmost facility, without the escape of an amount of gas imperiling the safety of the workmen and withiout any danger oi' mutilating the'bag, asdisble ftapping oi the main Aand the. escapeqof a relatively large amount ofgas during the manual manipulation of the bag in order to drag it into the main through one tapping by a cable inserted into the other tapping My improved device is primarily designed for use as a stopprer7 for gas-mains and may be adapted to high, low, and intermediate pressures of gas. It may also be used to advantage in water-mains. And I would have it so understood. l

yI would also 'have it understood that in practicing my invention, changes may be made in the'device herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit and scope of myin'vention.

by, and means for causing the inlationof the f said bag after the samezhas beenejectedinto the gas-main by plunger. i Y .v 2. A portable pneumatic stopperfor gas- Inains, having. a cylindrical bag-housing threaded at its inner end for direct application .to atapping in a gas-mainpa plunger located in the said housing, a bearing at the outer end of thesaid housingfor the lsaid plunger, a packin'gcarried bythe inner end of the plungerv and cooperating with thek inner wall of the housing, a flexible bag firmly fixed directly upon the inner end of the plunger and adapted to be retraced into .they housing thereby, means for causing the inflation of the bag after the bag has been ejected by the plunger into the lgas-main, and a pressuregauge located at the outerend of the plunger. A3. A portable pneumatic stopper-for gasmains, having a cylindrical: ybag-housing threaded at its inner yend for direct application to` a tapping ina gas-main, a plunger located in the said housing, a Vbearing at the outer end of the said housing vfont-he said plunger, a packing carried by the inner end 'of the plunger and cooperating' with the` inner wall of the housing, a flexible bag firmly iiXed directly upon the inner en'd ofthe '120 justable ystop mounted-upon theplunger for 12.5

yPredeiermhirlg the positioning-,0f thi-ejected bag in the gas-jjnmmV v l y y.

mains, having a cylindrical bag-housing threaded aty its Yinner-end for-'direct applica,-

- A portable pneumatic stopper forgas'-l an Y thereby, means for causing the inflation of the bag after the bag has been ejected by the plunger into the gas-main, a pressure-gauge located at the outer end of the plunger, and an adjustable stop mounted upon the plunger for predetermining the positioning of the ejected bag in the gas-main.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

WILLIS W. GARDNER. 

